From Deseret News archives:
BYU won't send students to Jerusalem Center
Today's news came days before the university was set to announce which students had been accepted to the program, which closed in 2000 because of violence in Jerusalem.
BYU had said in June that it would resume programs at the Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies for the first time since the university pulled all 174 students out of the center during the fall semester in 2000. The students had been sequestered in the center for a month before the pullout.
New fighting in northern Israel and Lebanon began 17 days ago, sparked by the June 25 kidnapping of an Israeli soldier. Violence continues to be centered far from Jerusalem, where BYU's center has been a refuge for at least 18 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who live in northern Israel. BYU officials repeatedly said they were closely watching the situation.
School officials earlier said 132 students had applied for 44 spots available this fall. Fees, deposits and application materials will be returned to the applicants, BYU spokesman Michael Smart said.
The Jerusalem Center has been and remains open to visitors and continues to host community outreach and service programs.
BYU still hopes to resume student programs in the future, Smart said, but will not make any decisions until the current conflict is resolved in such a way that students can safely travel to the area.
